CJO - Abstract - Burrow use and ranging behaviour of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (<em>Lasiorhinus latifrons</em>) in the Murraylands, South Australia

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    Burrow use and ranging behaviour of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in the Murraylands, South Australia
    G. R. Finlayson, G. A. Shimmin, P. D. Temple-Smith, K. A. Handasyde and D. A. Taggart (2005).
    Journal of Zoology, Volume 265, Issue 02, February 2005 pp 189-200 http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=274531

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Journal of Zoology (2005), 265 : 189-200 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © 2005 The Zoological Society of London
doi:10.1017/S095283690400620X (About doi)
Published online by Cambridge University Press 13 Jan 2005
 
Journal of Zoology (2005), 265:2:189-200 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © 2005 The Zoological Society of London
doi:10.1017/S095283690400620X

Burrow use and ranging behaviour of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in the Murraylands, South Australia

G. R. Finlayson a1c1, G. A. Shimmin a2a3, P. D. Temple-Smith a1, K. A. Handasyde a1 and D. A. Taggart a2a4
a1 Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
a2 School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
a3 Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
a4 Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Article author query
finlayson gr   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
shimmin ga   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
temple-smith p   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
handasyde ka   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 
taggart da   [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 

Abstract

This study investigated burrow use and ranging behaviour in the southern hairy-nosed wombat Lasiorhinus latifrons in semi-arid South Australia. Sixteen adult wombats were fitted with radio transmitters and monitored monthly from July 2001 to February 2002. Wombats generally used between one and five warrens, preferred large warrens with a greater number of entrances and showed a preference for one or two warrens. Across the study period there was no apparent change in burrows used within warrens. Radio-tracking indicated that animals spent very little time above ground (26% of 1115 night-time fixes), centred their activity around their preferred warrens, and moved, on average, 99 m/h and 221 m/night. Mean home-range size, estimated using minimum convex polygons and the harmonic mean method from location data, obtained through triangulation, and daytime warren fixes, ranged from 1.3 to 4.8 ha. Home-range size was similar between males and females and home ranges overlapped substantially. The data highlight the importance of burrows to southern hairy-nosed wombats in shaping their home ranges. It seems likely that the use of burrows and a specialized diet are important energy saving strategies for this species in such unpredictable regions of South Australia.

(Accepted June 17 2004)


Key Words: marsupial; wombat; Lasiorhinus latifrons; home range; burrow; herbivore.

Correspondence:
c1 All correspondence to: Graeme Finlayson, School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5055, Australia. E-mail: graemeroy@iprimus.com.au

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